Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Thursday 21 August 2003

21 August 2003

Remember last season's greatest story ever told? The tale of one man's gruelling struggle against social injustice, official indifference and a cruelly uncaring world to be credited with a deflected goal at Selhurst Park? Stuart Campbell (certificate PG - may contain scenes of mild disgruntlement) is set for a sequel this season after the erratic but approachable Hull referee who oversaw Town's League Cup defeat at Doncaster last week recorded the Mariners' opener as an own goal. Convinced that the goal was his, Campbell is to take arms against a sea of troubles, and by appealing to the FA end them; and his employer's official website is asking fans to help by sharing their impartial observations on its new messageboard. "Was you at the game?" asks the site, in its best hip Grimsby dialect.

John McDermott, who most of us have forgotten almost moved to Hull in the summer, came through 85 minutes of the reserves' first game of the season at Lincoln yesterday afternoon. Town's second string came back up the A46 with a Pontins League point under their belts after a Chris Bolder strike cancelled out the Imps' first-half lead; and Macca has his eye on the Bristol City game a week on Saturday for a return to first-team duty.

One of the less memorable of Grimsby's string of transient folk heroes, David Nielsen, is on his way back home to Denmark. The self-proclaimed "Golden Dude" - who flattered Town fans to deceive them with some fleeting glimpses of brilliance in a 2000-01 loan spell before demanding too much money and storming off in a huff - has left Norwich on a free transfer because his wife was offered a top job in computing. In an email to the Diary Miles Moss points out that Mrs Nielsen's new employers must have insisted on an immediate start, since the player appears to have jumped at the first Danish club in the phone book by signing for Aalborg BK.

"No embarrassing moments," says another email, "as last season Town played Lincoln reserves at Sincil Bank. I was there, and told you about the game too (including Diary scoop sensation world exclusive exclusive thing - Greg Young to play at Reading)." This is Tony Butcher, only compounding the embarrassment the Diary felt yesterday about where Lincoln reserves play. Tony didn't make it to Lincoln United's Ashby Avenue ground to see the latest chapter in the story of Macca, "even though my car was being serviced round the corner. I just couldn't, OK? Walking down the Skellingthorpe Road to see the Rodger's aces was a one step beyond." Is that clear, everyone?

And lastly, emails from Al Wilkinson and Si Wilson confirm that yesterday's Diary was utter rubbish by pointing out that Clyde Wijnhard joined a club abroad some weeks ago, thereby fatally scuppering Paul Groves' chances of luring him to Blundell Park. "I'd suggest your imagination is overactive, and wishfully thinking," sniffs Mr Wilson. "I'd heard that Wijnhard had signed for a Portugese club several weeks ago." Well, thanks for letting me know, Si, and while you're reading, do I have to turn up to your daughter's christening on the day, or will several weeks later be OK...?